Cal-bred News

Ancient Title Elected to Hall of Fame

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 21, 2008) -- Ancient Title, who raced for seven seasons and was named California-bred of the year in 1974 and 1975, on Monday was named to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y

The dark bay or brown gelding (Gummo-Hi Little Gal, by Bar le Duc) was elected in the oldtimers’ category and is the fourth Cal-bred named to the racing shrine.

He joins 19th century runner Emperor of Norfolk, Swaps, the 1955 Kentucky Derby winner and 1956 Horse of he Year, and Native Diver, who won three consecutive runnings of the Hollywood Gold Cup (1966-1968) as Cal-breds in the Racing Hall of Fame.

Ancient Title, bred by the late William and Ethel Kirkland and foaled in 1970 at Three Rings Ranch in Beaumont, Calif., won 24 of his 57 starts, including 20 stakes, and was retired in 1978 with earnings of $1,252,791, at the time a Cal-bred record.

Trained throughout his career by Keith Stucki, he won at distances from five furlongs to 1 ¼ miles, on dirt and turf, from California to New York, with several different riders, including Laffit Pincay Jr., Sandy Hawley, Darrel McHargue and Fernando Toro.

"I thought he should have gotten in two or three years ago," Stucki said. "I'm thrilled that he finally got in."

Ancient Title broke his maiden in his second career start, at 5 ½ furlongs under Pincay at Hollywood Park on July 7, 1972. He swept the Strub Series (Malibu Stakes, San Fernando Stakes and Strub Stakes) at Santa Anita Park in 1974, and captured the Hollywood Gold Cup and Saratoga Race Course’s Whitney Handicap in 1975. His last major win came in Santa Anita’s grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 29, 1978. He was retired after running fifth in the San Diego Handicap on Aug. 19, 1978.

He spent the last three years of his life at Rio Vista Farm near Atascadero, owned by Wally Dollase. Ancient Title died in Santa Ynez, Cal., at age 11 on Sept. 1, 1981, following intestinal surgery.

A Grade I six-furlong race named for him is run each fall at Santa Anita during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet.
--Larry Bortstein